KPS Global is excited to announce it was named a finalist for the 2021 RAC Cooling Industry Awards in the Refrigeration Innovation of the Year category for its newest innovation: Accessible Cold Environments (ACE)™.
The ACE unit, which was developed from a need for an easily accessible, open front, bulk storage space that could hold fast moving or bulk refrigerated products for online grocery fulfillment, was launched at Groceryshop tradeshow in Las Vegas in September 2021.
This groundbreaking technology is the first open front refrigerated solution to hold product temperature below 40°F all the way to the floor without using glass or solid doors to keep heat out of the space.
The innovative walk-in with no doors functions because of two important features:
1. The patent-pending triple air curtain restricts outside air from entering the products, maintaining dual temperature zones. The shelf zone can maintain a temperature range from 32°F to 34°F and the pallet zone can hold temperatures between 34°F and 38°F.
2. The vertical lift system allows full pallets of product to be loaded and unloaded into the chilled environment, eliminating the need for breaking down product to stock shelves, and reduces labor costs.
ACE can be applied as an eCommerce fulfillment solution for grocers, warehouses, pharmaceutical organizations and more. Its design and method of operations reduce labor and operating costs in the fulfillment process for those who are looking to save money and improve efficiency in fulfilling perishable orders.
The RAC Cooling Industry Awards
As stated on their website, the RAC Cooling Industry Awards are the biggest and most prestigious awards in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. The Awards are driven by the mission to celebrate the progress and achievement of the industry on all fronts – innovation, environmental progress, best practice and personal development.
The Refrigeration Innovation of the Year award recognizes cutting-edge systems, standalone products and components and processes in refrigeration, where the new technology provides a definitive change to existing techniques or equipment. Submissions are entered by distributors, manufacturers and designers alike. For this category, judges weigh “pushing boundaries” and innovation more heavily than volume production.
This marks the third year KPS Global has been considered for a RAC Cooling Industry Award. The company previously won for its FUSIONFRAME® panel system and its complete conversion of all five of its U.S. manufacturing facilities from using hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agents in its insulated polyurethane panels to hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blowing agents.
The RAC Cooling Industry Awards employs a two-part evaluation process that allows finalists to present their entries directly with the judging panel. The 2021 winners will be announced on Thursday, October 21 at the Grosvenor House in London, England.
